Cloth working machine



y 1934. H. u. BAsso CLOTH WORKING MACHINE Filed July 13, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l HENRY U. B4550 May 8, 1934. H. u. BASSO CLOTH WORKING MACHINE Filed July 13, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 :Il'll'lllllll; I-Il 3mm HENRY B05 May 8, 1934. H. u. BASSO CLOTH WORKING MACHINE Filed July 13, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 i/EMWMBA5S0 Patented May 8, 1%34 UNIT 22 Claims.

This invention relates to cloth shearing machines and has special reference to a means by which the shearing or cutting of the surface of the cloth is automatically interrupted when a surface inequality in the cloth is encountered.

More particularly, the invention contemplates a simple and automatic means by which the shearing mechanism is moved to a retracted position with respect to the cloth when a seam or surface inequality is encountered so as to relieve the attendant of the necessity of constantly standing by the machine and in this manner, a single attendant is enabled to supervise the operation of a number of different machines and is relieved for other duties. It being noted in this connection that if the shearing mechanism were not retracted, the same would be cut off and it would be necessary for the operator to stop the machine and sew the two ends together again. A further and equally important aim is to provide a cloth shearing attachment of the kind suggested which may be applied to difierent types of cloth shearing machines either during manufacture or at any time thereafter and which when applied will not in any manner interfere with the normal functioning of the machine.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure l is a fragmentary side elevation of a clutch mechanism embodied in the invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the mechanism shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through a motion transmitting mechanism embodying a fluid cylinder and a fluid actuated piston,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the clutch mechanism partly in section,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of a cloth shearing machine with the releasing mechanism in place,

Figure 6 is a detail elevation illustrating the motion transmitting mechanism between the clutch organization and the shear actuating mechanism,

Figure 7 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on line '77 of Figure 3,

Figure 8 is a detail transverse sectional view through the improved clutch mechanism, a wiring diagram being shown in connection there- 5 with,

Figure 9 is a detail transverse sectional view taken on line 99 of Figure 2,

Figure 10 is a detail transverse sectional View taken on line 10-l0 of Figure 2.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of Q illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention the numeral 10 designates a cloth shearing machine embodying a rotatable shearing element 12 mounted upon a U-shaped blade frame 14. The blade frame is a horizontally pivoted element mounted to be rocked about the horizontally mounted pins 16 so that when a seam is encountered in the adjacent cloth, the shearing element 12 may be retracted or moved to an inoperative position. With reference to Figure 5 it will be seen that the blade frame 14 is provided with a handle 18 adapted for manualengagement to allow an attendant to retract the shearing element 12 by hand when a seam in the cloth is encountered.

The cloth is designated by the numeral 20 and is shown as traveling through the machine beneath the shearing element 12 for engagement by the spiral or other cutting means thereof.

As brought out in the opening paragraphs of this specification the purpose of this invention is to provide for the automatic retraction of the shearing element 12 when a seam in the cloth is encountered and to that end, there will be found a feeler 24 located in operative relation to the cloth and at the approach or feeding side of the shears 12.

By reference to Figure 8 it will be seen that the feeler 24 is carried by a crank 26 mounted on a shaft 28 which as will be seen, also has connection with a switch arm 30 carrying a contact for engagement by the spaced contacts 32. Clearly, when the element 30 engages the spacing contacts 32 a flow of current will be brought about through the stepped-down circuit 34 so as to energize the magnet 36 and thereby bring about the operation of the switch arm 38 of the main circuit 40.

It will be seen that a transformer 42 serves-to step-down the voltage in the circuit 34 to probably six volts which is sufilcient to operate the magnet 36.

When there is brought about a flow of current through the circuit 40, the main magnet 44 is energized to bring about longitudinal movement of 5 the core or solenoid 46 and by reference to Figure 1 it will be seen that the core 46 hasconnection with a horizontally pivoted latch 50 through the intervention of a linkage arrangement 52. Thus when the magnet 44 is energized co-incident 9 with the actuation of th feeler 24 through engagement by a scam, the latch is retracted so as to allow a crank 54 to actuate a forked lever 56.

In Figure 1 it is shown that the crank 54 is held immediately in back of the forked lever 56 by the latch 50 and when the latch is retracted a contractile coil spring 60 associated with the crank swings the crank in a counter-clockwise direction as viewedin Figure 1, so that the lever 56 is actuated.

By reference to Figure 2 it will be seen that the actuation of the forked lever 56 on the supporting shaft 64 thereof will bring about the advancement of a clutch spool 66. What might be said to be the inner end portion of the clutch spool 66 is tapered for engagement by the rollers 68 of hell cranks '70.

Motion transmitting set screws '72 are carried by the bell cranks '70 and are adjustable for proper engagement with the axially movable and, of course, rotatable clutch element 74.

Thus, inward movement of the clutch spool 66 will bring about the rocking of the bell cranks '70 and axial movement of the clutch plate '74 into operative relation to a constantly driven clutch element 78. It will be seen that there is a second clutch plate '78 and a friction disc 82 between the clutch plates '74 and 80, the friction disc being connected at the peripheral portion thereof with the lugs 84 of the constantly turning clutch element '78; However, as shown in Figure 4, the connection of the friction disc 82 with the lugs 84 allows of the necessary axial movement of the friction disc as an incident to the engagement and dis-engagement of the clutch members.

It is further shown in Figure 4 that the clutch plate is provided with apertured axially extending cars 86 which extend through the central opening '79- in the disk 82, towhich the bell cranks 70 are pivoted.

In Figure 4 there is also a showing of the fact that the clutch plate 78 has permanent connection witha beveled gear 90 which is permanently in meshwith a driving gear 92, the latter being mounted upon any convenient constantly turning shaft on the machine. The clutch plate '78 isallowed to turn with respect to the shaft 94 upon which it is mounted while the clutch plate '74 is, as shown in Figure 4, keyed for limited sliding movement on the shaft 94 so that when the bell cranks '70 are actuated a driving connection will be established between the clutch plates '74, 80-, 82 and '78- causing these parts to turn together and thus bringing about rotation of the shaft 94. In other words, rotation of the shaft 94 is brought about by the movement of the clutch spool 66 inward in a direction to rock the bellcranks '70.

When the shaft 94 is thus turned, a similar movement is imparted to a disk keyed or otherwise secured on one end of the shaft. It isshown in Figure 2 that the disc 100 is provided at a point spaced outward from the axis thereof with an axial pin 102 mounted in the. slot 104 of a piston rod 106.

The piston rod 106- is provided at the upper portion: thereof with a piston 108' mounted within a cylinder 110. The cylinder 1-10 is swivelly connectedv to the frame of themachine by a sort of U-shaped bracket 114 so that when the shaft 94 is turned, the piston rod 106' may be moved upwardly into the cylinder 110. That is to say, the

. pivotal mounting of the cylinder 1'10- allows the arcuately moving pin 102 to bring about longitudinal movement of the piston rod 196.

In Figure 2 it is shown that the cylinder contains oil or fluid adaptable for the purpose, and the upper portion of the cylinder has connection with a flexible conduit 116 which leads to a second cylinder 118.

Referring now to Figure 3 it will be seen that the cylinder 118 encloses a piston 120 which is directed upward by the oil entering from the cylinder 110 and such upward movement of the piston brings about corresponding movement on the part of the piston rod 124.

In Figure 5 it is clearly illustrated that the upper portion of the piston rod 124 has connecion with the blade frame 14 through the intervention of a pin carried by the handle 18 and a slot 132 formed in the upper portion of the rod 124.

Now, in reviewing the operation as thus far described, it will be seen that when there is encountered a seam in the cloth the feeler 24 is actuated to bring about endwise movement of the solenoid 46 and such endwise movement of the solenoid releases the latch 50 to allow the spring 60 to assert itself and thereby produce endwise movement of the clutch spool 66. Such endwise movement of the clutch spool 66 establishes a driving connection between the clutchplates to transmit the motion of the beveled gear 92 to the shaft 94 and in this way move-the piston 108 to set up a flow of oil through the cylinders and thereby move the piston rod 124 so as to remove the shearing element 12 from its operative association with the cloth.

After the piston rod 124 has been raised and it starts its downward movement, its descent is checked or throttled by the by-pass ports v in the lower end of the cylinder 118.

It is shown in Figure 7 that there are four of these by-pass ports 150 and such ports establish communication between the cylinder and the flexible conduit 115 to allow of the throttled descent of the piston 120. A disc is mounted in the cylinder 118 and is provided with a plurality of ports for registration with the ports 150 and by a circumferential adjustment of the disc 155 the rate of descent of the piston 120 may be varied.

Of course, admission of fluid into the cylinder i Referring again to the elevation of the shearing element to an inoperative position, it is point ed out that at the time the shearing element reaches-its uppermost or fully retracted position the shaft 94 will have made one-half of a complete revolution. On the following quarter revolution, an arcuate cam carried by the clutch plate 74 is engaged with a crank 192 to move the same downward. It is shown in Figure 1 that the crank 192 is keyed or otherwise secured on the shaft 194, on which the crank 54 is also rigidly secured so that downward movement of the crank 192 under the influence of the descending cam 190 will bring about turning of the crank 54 to the retracted position suggested in Figure 1.

This retraction of the crank 54 is against the contrary influence of the spring 60 and when the crank 54 reaches the limit of its retraction it moves beneath the latch 50, which latch holds it in this position for subsequent operation.

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The completion of the revolution or on the final quarter turn of the shaft 94 the radial pin 200 carried by the clutch spool 66 is engaged by a cam or stop lock 204 and since the cam block extends more or less spirally the spool is retracted so as to break the engagement of the clutch parts and interrupt the drive. It is shown in Figure 2 that the stop block 20 has one end thereof positioned in the path of travel of the pin 200 so as to arrest further turning of the spool and at the same time hold the spool and the associated shaft in a predetermined position for re-starting. In Figure 4 it is shown that the clutch spool 66 is keyed for sliding movement on the shaft 94, the block 204 a being formed with an L-shaped opening allowing the pin 200 to pass thru the same.

With ref rence to the foregoing description it will be seen that the improved retracting mechanism for the shearing element provides an automatic means by which the shearing mechanism is retracted when the transverse seam is encountered so that the operator who was formerly required to manually retract the shearing eleis now free to attend to a number of machines at the same time and to supervise the operation of other parts of the machine.

Although the drawings, show but a single shearing element it is clear that in machines where two or more shearing mechanisms are employed, the mechanism for retracting the several shearing elements may be duplicated or equalled in numher to the shearin elements. Also it is to be understood that the form of invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that such minor changes in arrangement and. construction of parts may be made as will remain within the spirit of the invention and the scope of what is claimed.

Having thus described, the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a mechanism of the class described, a shearing element, a feeler, a circuit controlled by the feeler, a magnet associated with the circuit and having a solenoid, a latch actuated by the solenoid, a crank restrained by said latch, a lever engaged by said crank, a clutch actuated by said lever, a shaft actuated by said clutch, and a shearing element retracting means connected to said shaft and said shearing element.

2. ho a mechanism of the class described, a shearing element, a feeler, a circuit controlled by the feeler, a magnet associated with the circuit and having a solenoid, a latch actuated by the solenoid, a crank restrained by said latch, a lever: engaged by said crank, a clutch actuated by said lever, clutch operated means for retracting said crank, a shaft actuated by said clutch and a shearing element retracting means connected to said shaft and said shearing element.

3. In a mechanism of the class described, a shearing element, a feeler, a circuit controlled by the feeler, a magnet associated with the circuit and having a solenoid, a latch actuated by the solenoid, crank restrained by said latch, a lever engaged by said crank, a clutch actuated by said lever, clutch operated means for retracting said crank, said clutch being provided with a spool having a stop pin, a stop block having means in the path of travel of said pin to arrest turning of the spool at a predetermined point, a shaft actuated by said clutch and a shearing element retracting means connected to said shaft and said shearing element.

4. In a mechanism of the class described, a

jshearing element, a feeler, a circuit controlled by the feeler, a magnet associated with the circuit and having a solenoid, a latch actuated by the solenoid, a crank restrained by said latch, a lever engaged by said crank, a clutch actuated by said lever, clutch operated means for retracting said crank, said clutch being provided with a spool having a stop pin, a stop block having means in the path of travel of said pin to arrest turning of the spool at a predetermined point, a shaft associated with said clutch, and a shear lifting mechanism between said shaft and the shearing element.

5. In a mechanism of the class described, a shearing element, a feeler, a circuit controlled by the feeler, a magnet associated with the circuit and having a solenoid, a latch actuated by the solenoid, a crank restrained by said latch, a lever engaged by said crank, a clutch actuated by said lever, clutch operated means for retracting said crank, said clutch being provided with a spool having a stop pin, a stop block having means in the path of travel of said pin to arrest turning of the spool at a predetermined point, a shaft associated with said clutch, a shear lifting mechanism between said shaft and the shearing element, and a driving mechanism for said clutch.

6. In a mechanism of the class described, a feeler, a circuit controlled by said feeler and embodying a magnet having a solenoid, a clutch mechanism actuated by said solenoid, a shaft actuated by the clutch, and a shear retracting mechanism actuated by said shaft and embodying a fluid transmission.

7. In a mechanism of the class described, a feeler, a circuit controlled by said feeler and embodying a magnet having a solenoid, a clutch mechanism actuated by said solenoid and embodying a shaft, and a shear retracting mechanism actuated by said shaft and embodying a fluid transmission, said fluid transmission being provided with means to retard the flow of fluid in one direction to throttle the descent of the shear.

8. In a mechanism of the class described, a shearing element, a feeler for engaging cloth, a fluid transmission embodying a piston and a piston rod, said piston rod having connection with said shear to lift the same upon actuation of said feeler, means controlled by said feeler for introducing a fluid into said cylinder into operative relation to said piston, said cylinder being provided with a fluid outlet having means to retard the flow of fluid.

9. In a mechanism of the class described, a shearing element, a feeler for engaging cloth, a fluid transmission embodying a piston and a piston rod, said piston rod having connection with said shear to lift the same upon actuation of said feeler, means controlled by said feeler for introducing a fluid into said cylinder into operative relation to said piston, said cylinder being provided with a fluid outlet having means to retard the flow of fluid, said piston rod being provided with pin and slot connections with said shearing element to allow of the manual elevation of the shearing element.

10. In a mechanism of the class described, a motion transmitting assembly embodying a shaft, a piston and a cylinder receiving the piston, there being a limited sliding connection between said piston and said shaft, and a lifting mechanism for a shear associated with said cylinder, there being a fluid supply in said cylinder.

11. In a cloth shearing mechanism, a shearing element, means for retracting said shearing element, and means controlled by the seam of the cloth for actuating said retracting means.

12. In a cloth shearing machine, a shearing element, means for retracting said shearing element, a feeler associated with the cloth, and means connected to said retracting means and controlled by said feeler for retracting said shearing element.

13. In a cloth shearing machine, a shearing element, means for retracting said shearing element, a feeler actuated by the seam of the cloth, an electrical circuit controlled by said feeler, and means controlled by said electrical circuit for actuating said retracting means.

14. In a cloth shearing machine, a shearing clement, means for retracting said shearing element, and means controlled by surface projections in the cloth for actuating said retracting means.

15. In a cloth cutting machine, a cutting element, means for retracting said cutting element, and means controlled by siu'face inequalities in the cloth for actuating said retracting means.

16. In a cloth cutting machine, a cutting element, means for retracting said cutting element, a feeler actuated by surface inequalities in the cloth, an electrical circuit controlled by said feeler, and means controlled by said electrical circuit for actuating said retraction means.

17. In a cloth cutting machine, a cutting element, means for retracting said cutting element, and means controlled by a surface projection in the cloth for actuating said retracting means when the surface projection in the cloth passes adjacent the cutting element.

18. In a cloth manufacturing machine, a cutting element, means for rendering said cutting element ineffective when a surface inequality in the cloth comes within range of the cutting element.

19. In a cloth manufacturing machine, a cutting element, means for rendering said cutting element ineffective when a surface inequality in the cloth comes within range of the cutting element, and for rendering said cutting element effective when the said inequality passes beyond range of the cutting element.

20. In a cloth working machine, a working element for engaging one surface of the cloth, and means controlled by a surface inequality in the cloth for establishing a space between the cloth and the working element when said inequality comes within the range of the Working element and for establishing operative relationship between the working element and the surface of the cloth when the inequality passes beyond the range of the working element.

21. In a cloth working machine, a support for movably supporting cloth, a cloth working element in operative relation to one surface of the cloth, and means actuated by a surface inequality in the cloth for interrupting the said operative relation between the cloth working element and the surface of the cloth when said surface inequality is in range of the working element.

22. In a cloth working machine, a support for movably supporting cloth, a cloth working element in operative relation to one surface of said cloth, and means actuated by a surface inequality in the cloth for interrupting the said operative relation between the cloth working element and the surface of the cloth when said surface inequality is in range of the working element and restoring the working element to operative relation with the surface of the cloth when the surface inequaliiy passes beyond the range of the working element.

HENRY U. BASSO. 

